Paintbrushes of various sizes and shapes in a glass container on a table, with a blurred colorful abstract painting in the background.

INTRODUCING CUSTOM COMMISSIONS

Living room with large white brick wall, large balcony-style windows, and a framed painting of a lush garden scene with a fountain and statues. A tan leather sofa with assorted pillows is in front of the wall, with a round coffee table holding a green plant, a bowl of potatoes, and magazines. To the left is a small side table with a white lamp, and to the right is a tall potted tree near another window.

Creating Art Unique to You

My approach to commissions is to create a unique work of art that both satisfies and inspires you, and also reflects my own artistic motivations. My goal as an artist is to always be creating at a high calibur, birthing paintings that speak at a deep and personal level to the viewer. For collectors, I have found that choosing to place a work of art in their home often requires the piece to connect to them in a very meaningful way. As an artist, I aim to pinpoint that meaningful connection with my approach to commissions and create a unique work of art that speaks to you directly.

  • Step 1: Getting to know YOU

    I begin by simply getting to know you in order to best prepare your commissioned piece. This includes meeting with you, understanding your personal interests and what is important to you (such as meaningful places, people, and items).

    I believe each individual has deep idiosyncratic layers to them that what they choose to surround themself with speaks to. As your artist I aim to pinpoint and reveal these layers in my work.

    Two men are smiling and holding a small painting of trees. One man has a beard, wearing a green jacket and light jeans. The other man has long hair, wearing a gray beanie, plaid shirt, and brown pants. They are standing indoors with paintings on the wall and various items on a table behind them.

  • Step 2: Developing a Mockup

    Using imagery that relates to you I create a series of collages or “mockups” that can represent different directions for the final commission. You can then pick one on the spot or ask me to pursue a specific image for more development.

    This is also when I present size and pricing options based on the prototype images provided. For each images I will show different sizing options that range from small - medium - large using specific dimensions

    A person is cutting a colorful paper craft with scissors, on a table with art supplies including pastels and paper, creating a layered collage piece.

  • Step 3: Time to get to work!

    Once the image or “mock-up” meets your satisfaction I then get to work on your commission in the studio!

    Depending on the agreed size of the commission, and my current workload, I will aim to give a realistic sense of when you can expect your commissioned piece to be finished.

    An artist painting a cityscape scene on a large canvas in a well-lit room, with framed colorful portraits hanging on the wall behind him.

See how this commission process worked out for recent clients: Jack and Jenny Clearman!

Step 1: Getting to know Jack and Jenny

-I traveled to their house in Washington

-Spent time hanging out and taking photos of their world

-Gathered elements that made them feel like them

  -Their dog (Emma!)

  -Nature (they live out in the woods)

  -The cool house they just built!

  -Love of glass blowing (jacks father made all the cool lamps)

 -Love of Donkeys!

Living room with large window, two white armchairs, wooden bookshelf, black speaker, and a gray patterned rug.
A brown dog with a bandana around its neck sleeping on a beige couch with a white pillow behind its head and a person wearing a black quilted jacket resting their head on the dog's body.
Decorative table lamp with a pink, red, and purple glass shade featuring a curved, fluted design. The lamp base has similar colors and patterns, with the lamp placed on a black side table against a beige wall near a window with wooden trim and greenery outside.

Step 2: Creation of Mockups for Jack and Jenny

View through a window screen of a backyard with trees, bushes, and bird feeders on a wooden post, with sunlight filtering through green leaves.
A garden scene with a small tree with multiple trunks, green leaves, a path, and a bird feeder with two green feeding stations hanging from a wooden stand.
A room with large windows showing a lush green garden outside. Inside, there are various decorative items including a lamp with a red shade, a black vase, books on a wooden shelf, and two dogs; one sitting on the floor and another peeking out from behind the plants.
A wooden deck with stairs on the right side leading to a grassy yard, trees with green leaves, a bird feeder hanging from a post, and a clear blue sky.

During this process I am also designing ideas that are interesting to me and that I feel fall into the body of work that I already love to do.

Each collaged image incorperated my feel for Jack and Jenny and imagery that related to them.

Step 3: I shared images of all the collage Ideas I had along with pricing information for each potential commission.

For each image, I outlined costs for a small, medium or large size.

Backyard with wooden deck leading to a garden with trees, bird feeders, and green foliage, under a clear blue sky.

After some deliberation…The Winner!

Almost….

They liked this one the most because it was the stairway that led down to the beach near their house! It’s a very romantic walk!.... But one thing was missing

A collage of four identical images showing a wooden staircase leading to a garden, with a donkey at the top, trees in the background, and various lanterns hanging or placed around the area.

I then further expanded on the same idea, but added in some other elements, giving them some more options about how to proceed. We both decided there had to be a lamp and the Donkeys!

Fun Fact: Did you know that a male donkey is called a Jack and a female a Jenny!?

Last Step: I got to work, and a few months later…Voila! the Final Painting!!

A painting of a scenic outdoor landscape with a wooden walkway over water, trees, a mountain in the background, and donkeys eating near the water
Wooden shelf with vinyl records, a stereo receiver, a record turntable, books, magazines, and decorative items including a lamp and small book on a wall.
Contact me about your own custom commission!